Tulane practiced at the Saints indoor facility today, so I did not get to watch it.
Willie Fritz, Michael Pratt and Jeffery Johnson spoke when they got back to campus.
FRITZ
On quick turnaround being good or bad:
"We'll find out Thursday. They are very talented. They have done a good job of playing high school kids and transfer guys and JC guys and have some really talented players. They do a good job in all three phases and are playing excellent defense right now. They put pressure on the quarterback. They tackle well. They are not afraid to play a bunch of man coverage. A really nice run game. Some people think Coach Holgorsen throws the ball all the time, but they run extremely well. They play great in the kicking game. They have probably the best punt returner in the country. They have a great kick returner. They are just a really good overall team."
On defensive issues:
"Part of it is these guys need to do a good job of staying in their gap. When they run a stretch play and we have to tackle better than what we've been tackling. That's something we have to overcome."
On fake punt:
"We would liked to have gotten a little momentum with it and got some points out of that drive and been right back in the game, but unfortunately we didn't. He (Ryan Wright)'s got a good arm and throws the ball well."
On mindset of team:
"We talked about it last night. We normally take Sunday off but went last night because of the short week and just talked about how the season just jumps all over you. Sometimes guys, I call them offseason heroes, are really good in January, February, March, April, May, June, July and even into August, but when the season gets in, it's physically and mentally taxing. Some guys can respond to that day after day after day. We have to have everybody be able to do that day after day. We're worried about the 2021 Tulane team. That's what we're focused on."
On low point:
"They are disappointed, no doubt about it. We were all disappointed. We didn't play well and in the first half we gave up the score to make it 31-7. Following the analytics, we tried to use timeouts to see if we could get the ball back and score and cut the lead. Unfortunately it didn't work that way. We have to execute. Like I told the guys, we're not going to roll the ball out and beat people. We have to play well. We don't have to play perfect, but we have to play well."
On Jha'Quan Jackson:
"He's a big banged up right now. He's like a lot of the guys. He's got to get going and play with confidence and he'll be fine. He's just got to get healthy and play with confidence and fight through adversity."
On three straight kickoff returns that did not get back to 25:
"They did a good job against us. We were trying to use some guys in there and play and were having a tough time getting bodies on bodies."
PRATT
On chasing early deficit again:
"That just changes our game plan up a little bit, but we just have to be able to go out there no matter the score and be able to emphasize the little things and correct plays and do things the right way."
On ball saiilng on him:
"There was no excuse for those. I've just got to get my footing right and get the little details down and make throws."
ON quick turnaround to Houston game:
"I think it's got to be. The guys are back in here. We're working. We had a good practice today. It's a quick week, so you've got to be able to go out there and get it done on Thursday."
On showing he is different QB than in first career start against Houston:
"Definitely think I've improved in a lot of ways. Thursday night I think it will be a different game than it was last year, and we're excited to go out there and put on a show."
On Jha'Quan Jackson not being productive in passing game:
"He's close. We just have to find a way to get him the ball and get our playmakers the ball. We're right there. We'll have him in there."
On getting within one score and then having it slip away again:
"Just the little details. We've got to be able to execute all four quarters, and that's what we struggled with. A couple of games we played we played three really good quarters, whether it's first, second and third or first, second and fourth, whatever it is, but we have to find a way to play four really good quarters of football.:
On having Thursday night spotlight:
"It's back in our stadium, prime time TV on Thursday night. We just have to go out there and execute."
JOHNSON
On biggest issues defensively:
"First of all, everybody has got to do their part. We've just gotta really buy in and commit to getting better, and I feel like that's the biggest problem. We've got a bunch of younger starters and guys playing for the first time, and everybody has to buy into that process and commit to getting better."
On guys getting flustered:
"I really just think it's guys putting in the work. It's a lot. It takes a lot. There's a lot that goes into the process, and I feel like that's what guys need to do, whether it's just getting in the playbook, getting extra time after practice and in meetings, stuff like that."
On being 1-4:
"Obviously it's something we can easily fix. I tell the younger guys all you can do is stay positive. The more you give up, everything else fails. You have to keep going and lift each other up and encourage each other. That's how it is. We've been here before. We've just got to get that win to get back rolling."
On rushing defense:
"It hurts, but the problem is easily fixable."
On Houston game two years ago:
"The biggest thing was Jalen McCleskey caught that ball for the touchdown. That was a pretty awesome memory. We always have those close games. That was a big game for us. Being down, we just got that feeling we were going to win."
On quick turnaround:
"It can be challenging, but it's the most important game because it's the next one. We just have to let bygones be bygones and move on to the next and prepare for this one just like we prepare for any other game."
Willie Fritz, Michael Pratt and Jeffery Johnson spoke when they got back to campus.
FRITZ
On quick turnaround being good or bad:
"We'll find out Thursday. They are very talented. They have done a good job of playing high school kids and transfer guys and JC guys and have some really talented players. They do a good job in all three phases and are playing excellent defense right now. They put pressure on the quarterback. They tackle well. They are not afraid to play a bunch of man coverage. A really nice run game. Some people think Coach Holgorsen throws the ball all the time, but they run extremely well. They play great in the kicking game. They have probably the best punt returner in the country. They have a great kick returner. They are just a really good overall team."
On defensive issues:
"Part of it is these guys need to do a good job of staying in their gap. When they run a stretch play and we have to tackle better than what we've been tackling. That's something we have to overcome."
On fake punt:
"We would liked to have gotten a little momentum with it and got some points out of that drive and been right back in the game, but unfortunately we didn't. He (Ryan Wright)'s got a good arm and throws the ball well."
On mindset of team:
"We talked about it last night. We normally take Sunday off but went last night because of the short week and just talked about how the season just jumps all over you. Sometimes guys, I call them offseason heroes, are really good in January, February, March, April, May, June, July and even into August, but when the season gets in, it's physically and mentally taxing. Some guys can respond to that day after day after day. We have to have everybody be able to do that day after day. We're worried about the 2021 Tulane team. That's what we're focused on."
On low point:
"They are disappointed, no doubt about it. We were all disappointed. We didn't play well and in the first half we gave up the score to make it 31-7. Following the analytics, we tried to use timeouts to see if we could get the ball back and score and cut the lead. Unfortunately it didn't work that way. We have to execute. Like I told the guys, we're not going to roll the ball out and beat people. We have to play well. We don't have to play perfect, but we have to play well."
On Jha'Quan Jackson:
"He's a big banged up right now. He's like a lot of the guys. He's got to get going and play with confidence and he'll be fine. He's just got to get healthy and play with confidence and fight through adversity."
On three straight kickoff returns that did not get back to 25:
"They did a good job against us. We were trying to use some guys in there and play and were having a tough time getting bodies on bodies."
PRATT
On chasing early deficit again:
"That just changes our game plan up a little bit, but we just have to be able to go out there no matter the score and be able to emphasize the little things and correct plays and do things the right way."
On ball saiilng on him:
"There was no excuse for those. I've just got to get my footing right and get the little details down and make throws."
ON quick turnaround to Houston game:
"I think it's got to be. The guys are back in here. We're working. We had a good practice today. It's a quick week, so you've got to be able to go out there and get it done on Thursday."
On showing he is different QB than in first career start against Houston:
"Definitely think I've improved in a lot of ways. Thursday night I think it will be a different game than it was last year, and we're excited to go out there and put on a show."
On Jha'Quan Jackson not being productive in passing game:
"He's close. We just have to find a way to get him the ball and get our playmakers the ball. We're right there. We'll have him in there."
On getting within one score and then having it slip away again:
"Just the little details. We've got to be able to execute all four quarters, and that's what we struggled with. A couple of games we played we played three really good quarters, whether it's first, second and third or first, second and fourth, whatever it is, but we have to find a way to play four really good quarters of football.:
On having Thursday night spotlight:
"It's back in our stadium, prime time TV on Thursday night. We just have to go out there and execute."
JOHNSON
On biggest issues defensively:
"First of all, everybody has got to do their part. We've just gotta really buy in and commit to getting better, and I feel like that's the biggest problem. We've got a bunch of younger starters and guys playing for the first time, and everybody has to buy into that process and commit to getting better."
On guys getting flustered:
"I really just think it's guys putting in the work. It's a lot. It takes a lot. There's a lot that goes into the process, and I feel like that's what guys need to do, whether it's just getting in the playbook, getting extra time after practice and in meetings, stuff like that."
On being 1-4:
"Obviously it's something we can easily fix. I tell the younger guys all you can do is stay positive. The more you give up, everything else fails. You have to keep going and lift each other up and encourage each other. That's how it is. We've been here before. We've just got to get that win to get back rolling."
On rushing defense:
"It hurts, but the problem is easily fixable."
On Houston game two years ago:
"The biggest thing was Jalen McCleskey caught that ball for the touchdown. That was a pretty awesome memory. We always have those close games. That was a big game for us. Being down, we just got that feeling we were going to win."
On quick turnaround:
"It can be challenging, but it's the most important game because it's the next one. We just have to let bygones be bygones and move on to the next and prepare for this one just like we prepare for any other game."